[Fix] Windows Automatically Reduces System Volume for Games & PC Calls

One of the most common annoyance in Windows 7 and later is the automatically adjustment of system volume while you are making PC calls. We have received so many mails asking for solution of this problem, so today we are going to post the solution in this topic.

While you are using your PC to place or receive calls or while you are playing games which use PC calls feature, Windows automatically reduces the system volume without even asking you.

Actually its a new feature introduced in Windows 7 which can be disabled using following simple steps:

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1. Open “Sound” applet from Control Panel. You can also access it directly using “mmsys.cpl” command in RUN or Start Menu search box. Or right-click on Speaker icon present in system tray and select “Playback devices” or “Recording devices” or “Sounds” option.

2. Now go to “Communications” tab and check the option “Do nothing” and Apply it.

Sound_Setting_for_PC_Calls_in_Win_7.png

3. That’s it. Now Windows will no longer reduce the system volume.

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

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  1. ^^ You can disable other sound events using Sound settings in Control Panel. That would be the best solution.

  2. I’ve been looking through the Sound folder in the Control Panel, but I’m not sure exactly what to do. I just want to be able to listen to youtube audio – I wouldn’t mind disabling the windows notification sounds altogether – I just don’t know how to do it. Can you relay specific instructions as to how to do this? You would be an ear-saver!!!

  3. ^^ Open Sound in Control Panel, go to Sounds tab, select “No Sounds” from drop-down list and Apply it.

  4. ^^ If it didnt work that means your email client software is using its own sound event. Check its settings and you’ll find an option to enable/disable sound events for new emails. Just turn that option off.

  5. YOU ARE WONDERFUL!!! Thank you so very much!! It worked!!! My hearing has been saved. Have a great holiday weekend! I really appreciate you taking the time to help me!

  6. to resolve this issue you have to go to device manager and uninstall all microsoft keyboard drivers. whats happened is microsoft update or something has installed the keyboard and mouse software. uninstalling the software alone doesnt resolve until you remove the associated drivers. im guessing most people dont have a the correct keyboard for the drivers installed and its this that causes the volume to drop to zero.

  7. my comment relates to a slightly diff issue mind you. where your master volume is set to any volume and immediately begins to increment down to zero. not sure how i got to this page O_o

  8. regarding comment by himansu sekhar vipul: I uninstalled my Saitek software for my cyborg keyboard (now sold by madcatz) and that resolved the issue. Apparently, I needed to reinstall this software and it is all solved. Good input

  9. Hey guys, check your audio. If you have a headphone plugged in, then disable the speakers from the computer. To enable it again just go to sound properties and on playback tab, right click to show all disabled devices and enable it. Hope this helps.

  10. I love listening to music particularly while wasting time playing Free Cell or Solitaire. How can I mute the game sounds (like cards being shuffled)

  11. I had this problem with a Logitech USB headset plugged into my Win 8.1 PC. Nothing stopped the volume from auto-decreasing to zero until I plugged it into a different USB port. Apparently a driver screwup.

  12. Following the above instructions to disable the sound leveling only worked for the Free Cell game. It did not work with Solitaire or Spider Solitaire. Very Annoying. Why would Microsoft think this feature should be so difficult to disable?

  13. @hameris – possible solution (win7): Start-Control panel-Sound-Playback – check if your headphones are set as DEFAULT Communication Device, if not use the Arrow next by Set Default. For me this solved the problem.

  14. IF SETTING TO “DO NOTHING” DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM:
    1. With still sound open in control panel, open the volume mixer, and play sound from whichever source you’re having trouble with (i.e.: youtube).
    2. Set all volumes to equal (or everything the way you like it) and then open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and kill the “SndVol.exe” process.
    3. (optional, may help if this doesn’t work otherwise) In the Sound window, choose one of the other options before moving back to “Do Nothing” and click “Apply.”
    4.When you reopen mixer, you should now be able to move the main volume slider without the offending slider jumping too low again.

  15. That solution does not work.

    Disabling all effects practically cripples the sound system and generally lowers the volume.

    We need an official fix.

  16. I really wonder what idiot’s idea was to default this to reducing the volume.

    Like, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?

  17. My sound is too low I have tried many other things, but it is not helping I also tested my amp is fine.i on windows 7 64bit amd

  18. Smoj I have to use option 3

    I have to flick the setting back to lower than back to don’t lower every time I open Skype, This setting is bugged and doesn’t “remember” the ‘Don’t do anything’ setting

  19. Thanks so much didn’t understand (after installing maybe discord), all my internet sound using was diminished, thought I had to replace speakers after I realized when ears were blown off by playing something on my computer (audio track)! Regards

  20. System volume goes straight to zero. Forget the “minor” fixes. Done it all. Speakers are set to default, sound will not unmute, uninstalled drivers, went to every setting you will suggest, and STILL volume goes straight to zero! Clean boot, Mike off, slider bar, etc…nothing clears this fault. Two days ago it was not doing this, and NO updates for a while. Speakers work, as I fight to raise volume, I can hear them fine. Checked all other programs that would use “mute”. Nothing.
    Restore point; nothing. Pls don’t suggest something “obvious”, as I’ve already tried everything suggested on about 25 sites. Speakers say they are fine. Drivers are the latest. No red “X”s, no yellow markers. Nothing obvious, but volume continues to immediately go to zero (mute). HUGELY irritating!

  21. ^^ It seems some 3rd party software is causing this issue in your system. Try to disable all programs from startup and then check whether the problem still persists.

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